Snow Globe
NBC embraces world coming together for Winter Games
NBC is not running from the potential of political drama around these Olympics, instead embracing the possibility of a positive storyline.
In recent weeks, the turmoil between host nation South Korea and North Korea has seen a deescalation. North Korean athletes will be participating, and even playing alongside South Koreans on the women’s hockey team.
“I sure hope we’ll draw people into the Games and for the right reasons. It certainly feels like a positive step, this de-escalation, this calming of the temperature over there,” NBC’s President of Olympics Production & Programming Jim Bell said recently.
“One of the stories that has been out in the world happens to be one of the stories where the Olympics are taking place. That’s going to be a focus point that we hope draws people in to being interested in seeing the North Koreans march in the opening ceremony and seeing the women’s hockey team competing together. I think there’s a bit of a curiosity factor that’s being enhanced by the news. And this gives people something to feel good about in the world, which is a welcome departure from so many of the distractions, I think.”
Bell admitted that the lessening of political tension was “most welcome” by the 2,500 employees NBC has in Pyeongchang who will be responsible for 2,400-plus hours of coverage back home. That coverage includes live action in prime time, including the most-watched events like figure skating and skiing.
The network is hoping that the social-media age, which has hurt events shown on tape delay, will now turn into a positive with events being shown live across all time zones over the next 17 days.
“The evolution of technology and wanting to feel like television is the place where the entire country could experience the Olympics live as much as possible,” said Bell, who noted the 14hour time difference works in the network’s favor for live coverage.
“So, for the first time ever we’ll be live across the country. So, it’s the most live coverage for this communal experience and not feel like television is being usurped by social media and other things in
other time zones. I think it’s going to be a great way for viewers to experience it live.” Mike Tirico will be taking over primetime hosting duties for the Olympics from Bob Costas for the first time, alongside Katie Couric. The figurative passing of the torch is one of the main reasons Tirico was convinced to leave ESPN for NBC two years ago.
“You just get a different feel from Olympic athletes. There is more of a real feel to the athletes,” Tirico said. “They have not been five-star coddled athletes as football and basketball players often can be, and it has resonated with me why the Olympics still matter: real stories of real relatable people that will become icons in our country or in other countries throughout the Games. So I can’t wait to get rolling here.”
Lindsey Vonn exemplifies that for Tirico. The 33-year-old skier has battled back from multiple severe injuries to make it to her fifth Olympic Games and is one of the favorites in the speed events on the slopes.
“This is someone who has broken all these bones but still has this ridiculous desire to go down a mountain 80 miles per hour, faster than anybody else in the world. And believes that she can do it,” Tirico said. “I asked her for a story, ‘ Why are you still doing this?’ She just looked at me with great consternation: ‘ Mike, why am I doing this? Because I can beat them all.’
“There’s just a real nature to Lindsey. And the chance to see that for me really came home with the opportunity of a lifetime for me.”